LITTLE ROCK — I’ve been trying out new products from a company called Trident. They make cases for a variety of smart phones and tablet computers, including Apple, Samsung, Motorola and Nokia phones, and recently updated their product lines.
I tested two new cases for the Apple iPhone - the Aegis series (which is available for several other phones) and the new Kraken case.
First up was the Aegis case. It’s made up of two parts: a soft silicone that encompasses the phone and a hard shell that fits over the back and sides. While the shell is black, the silicone comes in red, blue, pink, green or black.
The Aegis’ silicone case covers the phone’s buttons and ports, something not many cases do. It’s extra protection against dust and moisture and is a welcome design feature. The hard shell has thin screens that cover the microphone and speaker on the bottom of the phone, protecting them as well.
I really like the feel of this case. The silicone is extra soft, yet it has enough grip to keep the phone from slipping out of your hand. The back of the hard shell is textured to help with grip, but the texture is very shallow, so it almost feels smooth.
However, I had two problems with this case. The first was the bottom part of the silicone layer that covers the home button. It was very thin, and almost immediately, the case bubbled out there. That means dirt could get in very easily.
The biggest issue was with screen protection. Rather than having anything built in, the case came with one of those sticky pieces of plastic that you put over the screen. I’ll be honest, I hate these things. There’s always a bubble you can’t get out, then dirt gets underneath, and before you know it, the thing is halfway off. They also scratch very easily. I’d much rather seen a screen protector as part of the case.
That said, the Aegis has redeeming qualities. The soft silicone and lightly textured shell feel really nice in the hand. The case is fairly lightweight, so it doesn’t make the phone too heavy. The case is easy to put on and take off, and the flaps over the ports offer more than most cases in this class.
Next, I tested out the Kraken AMS (Adaptive Modular System) series case.
Like the Aegis, this is a silicone case with a hard shell over it. Unlike the Aegis case, the Kraken has two parts to its hard shell, one that covers the back and a second that covers the front. Also unlike the Aegis, the Kraken has a built-in screen protector, so there’s no need for that annoying sticky thing. The silicone interior is actually Trident’s Perseus case, which comes in several colors. The Kraken’s hard shell also can be purchased in different colors. Hence the AMS title.
The hard shell on the Kraken covers everything except for the corners, earpiece on the front of the phone, camera and logo on the back and power button on top. The power button is covered by the interior silicone. The ports and mute switch are covered with silicone that is attached to the hard shell. In short, this case offers ultimate protection.
This case also has a special bonus: a metal kickstand on the back that can be removed by sliding it out of its groove. The groove is deep enough to make the kickstand nearly flush with the back of the hard shell, so it doesn’t get in the way, but it’s there if you ever need it. The kickstand props up the phone horizontally, so you can watch videos more easily. It’s a fun and welcome extra.
The Kraken’s biggest flaw isn’t with the case itself. It’s the included belt clip.
I’m not a huge fan of belt clips to begin with, but this one was just useless to me. The clip sits on a bracket, which clings to the case via notches on either side of the phone. The clip itself can be rotated so you can wear the phone horizontally or vertically. The problem is, every time I rotated the clip, the whole thing popped off the phone. A couple of times, I nearly dropped the phone because of it. While the case will protect the phone, it’s still not a good idea to frequently drop a phone.
The other issue is the belt clip covers the front of the phone, so you can’t see the screen well. You can’t attach the belt clip to the back without detaching the stand.Frankly, I see no need for this belt clip. Trident would do better to just leave it out of the package.
The Kraken case stands just fine on its own. It has good protection for everything from the screen to the ports, and the kickstand in the back is a great bonus. It has some weight to it, but not enough to make it a major issue. Best of all, it’s easy to get on and off the phone. I would definitely recommend this case.
So far, I like what Trident has to offer. I’m eager to see what else they can do.
Melissa L. Jones can be reached via e-mail at mljones72@me.com.
Where it’s @
The Trident Aegis series case for iPhone 5 retails for $34.95. The Kraken AMS series case for iPhone 5 retails for $49.95. More information is available at www.tridentcase.com.
Business, Pages 23 on 01/21/2013